Former Joliet Diocese bishop Joseph Imesch dies

A former bishop who led the Joliet Diocese through a period of major growth but came under fire for his handling of clergy sex abuse cases died Tuesday morning, Diocese officials said.

Bishop Joseph Imesch, 84, retired in June 2006 after serving as the diocese's third bishop for roughly 27 years.

He was installed as bishop of the Joliet Diocese on Aug. 28, 1979, and retired as the Ordinary for the Diocese in June 2006.

Imesch was remembered Tuesday by DuPage County Catholic leaders for his appreciation of women's contributions to the church and his continued presence at sacraments after his retirement.

"I admire his stance on women in the church and I will remember that always," said Sr. Madelyn Gould, pastoral associate at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Naperville. "He never wavered in his appreciation for women in ministry."

In a statement, Bishop R. Daniel Conlon said Imesch's leadership spanned 40 percent of the Diocese's history, a period marked by "great change and population growth, which he managed well."

"Bishop Imesch led with conviction and compassion and used his many talents generously. As we celebrate the coming of Christ in this season, and, at the same time, commend Bishop Imesch to the love and mercy of God, his episcopal motto seems especially appropriate: 'The Lord Is Near.' May he be near the Lord for all eternity," Conlon said.

Imesch became a controversial figure in 2005 when critics said he was indifferent to sex abuse victims' suffering and protected priests accused of molesting children by transferring them to other assignments.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests responded to Imesch's death by again criticizing him for ignoring and enabling crimes.

"We hope Imesch's passing will bring some comfort to the hundreds of girls and boys who were sexually violated during his tenure," David Chossey of St. Louis, director of the survivors network, said in a statement. "We hope Imesch's passing will also encourage current and former diocesan staff to speak up about clergy sex crimes and cover-ups."

When Imesch retired in 2006, he refused to comment on the past and said he had mixed emotions. He said there was much more to his ministry than the final two years.

"I regret I couldn't stay longer," he said.

The Rev. Mark Cote, pastor of St. Alexander's Catholic Church in Villa Park, said Tuesday the death of the bishop who ordained him in 2004 "saddens our hearts."

"As a pastor, I will miss him," Cote said. "I have wonderful memories of him as bishop of our diocese."

One of those memories is of the last Confirmation Mass Imesch celebrated, which took place at St. Alexander's in November 2014 as the retired bishop sealed young people with the gift of the Holy Spirit in a ceremony to mark the strengthening of their faith.

Born on June 21, 1931, in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, Imesch was ordained Dec. 16, 1956, in Rome.

He served as pastor at two Detroit-area churches and as secretary to John Cardinal Dearden, Archbishop of Detroit, from 1959 to 1971. He was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit on April 3, 1973. In 1977, he was assigned as regional bishop of the Northwest Region.

During Imesch's time in Joliet, the diocese, which encompasses DuPage, Will, Grundy and Kankakee counties, swelled from 400,000 to 650,000 members. It also expanded social justice programs to do missionary work in three countries. He stepped down when he reached the retirement age of 75, although his retirement was not mandatory.

Church leaders said Tuesday funeral services for Imesch were pending.